Grave-mound frame.



W. J. EARLY.

GRAVE MOUND FRAME.

APPLICATION FILED FEB 9, i914.

Patented Oct. 19, 1915.

.W [T N ES S ES v ATTORN EY ran :r it

VILLIAM JOHN EARLY, 0F CATAWISSA. MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN Ill/I. EARLY, OF CATAWISSA, MISSOURI.

GRAVE-MOUND FRAME.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 19, 1915.

Application filed February 9, 1914. Serial No. 81164....

The invention relates to improvements in grave mound frames. I

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of grave mound frames and to' provide a simple, eflicient, and comparatively inexpensive grave mound frame of strong and durable construction,

and adapted to protect the same and present an ornamental appearance.

\Vith these and other objects in view the invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and pointed out in the claim appended hereto, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size, and minor details of construction, within the scope of the claim, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit'or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawing :-F igure 1 is a perspective view of a grave mound frame constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the same, the section being taken through the head piece. Fig. 3 is a central transverse sectional view. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view on the line H of Fig. 2. Fig.

5 is a horizontal sectional view on the lineends rigidly connected at the corners toform a solid, practically one-piece frame toenable it to be easily handled and placed over a grave. The sides of the frame are preferably inclined upwardly and inwardly,

as shown, to present an upwardly tapered appearance, and while only the sides are shown inclined in the drawing, the ends capable of being easily placed over a grave, Y

may also be inclined, if desired. The frame,

which is in practice designed to be enameled or otherwise finished to represent marble or stone, may be curved exteriorly, as shown, or shaped in any other form to present an attractive appearance. The sides and ends of the frame may be constructed of any suitablemetal and may be'made of any de sired thickness, and when constructed of relatively thin metal, the frame may be equipped with a central transverse brace 2 to prevent the sides from spreading or bulging when the frame is filled in with earth.

The brace 2 is composed of rods or sectionsv 3, having inner threaded portions 4 to be engaged by a turn buckle 5, and provided at their outer terminals with hooks 6 adapted to engage in openings 7 of lugs 8. The turn buckle is adapted to be rotated to place the sections under the desired tension, and the lugs 8, which are located at an intermediate point between the upper and lower edges of the sides of the frame, are disposed horizontally and may be formed integral with the sides of the frame or be brazed, welded, or otherwise rigidly connected with the same. The hook-shaped terminals of the rods or sections 8 of the brace engage under the lugs, so that there is no liability of displacement after the brace is placed under tension. -When the mound frame is constructed of relatively heavy material, with which there is no liability of the sides spreading or bulging, the transverse brace may, of course, be omitted.

The grave mound frame is equipped at the head end with a head piece comprising an approximately inverted U-shaped upright frame or arch 9, composed of spaced sides and a connecting top portion. The sides of the upright frame or arch are straight and are provided in their inner opposite faces withvertical grooves 10 for the reception of inscription slides or plates 11. The upright frame is preferably constructed of a. piece of channeled metal to form the grooves,and the slides are provided at their lower ends with projecting lugs 12 consisting of extensions of the web or intermediate connecting portion of the channeled bar or piece and extending through vertical openings 13 in a. horizontal flange or bar 14, carried by the mound frame. The horizontal flange or bar 14L, which is arranged within the mound frame at the head end thereof, is located at anintermediate' pomt between the upper a nd lower edges of the said mound frame, and the flanges or side walls of the grooves 10 form shoulders which rest upon the upper face of the horizontal flange or bar 14, and

the latter closes the lower ends of the grooves when the upright frame is secured in place. The lugs 12- are bent outwardly and upwardly against the lower face ofthe bar or flange 1st, and rigidly and securedly fasten the upright frame to themound frame.

' screws 16 piercing the web portions of the sides of the upright frame and engaging the lowermost plate or slide 11. The sides of the upright frame are designed to be provided at intervals with threaded perforations for the reception of the clamping screws to enable thesame to be arranged at differentpoints, and the number of the inscription slides may be varied. The inscription slides are preferably provided at their side edges with intertitting tongues and grooves 17 and 18, and the upright frame and the said plates or. slides are designed to be enameled or otherwise finished to render them rust-proof, and in practice, they may present the appearance of a marble head stone. The closing of the lower end of the gro oves'lo by the transverse flange or bar 14 confines the inscription plates or bars in the grooves'and prevents their removal there from. After the grave mound frame is placed in position over the grave, it is filled with earth, which will conceal both the central brace and the means for mounting the approximately inverted U-shapcd frame formed of a single piece composed of spaced sides provided at their inner edges with longitudinal grooves, and a top portion connecting the sides and closing the grooves at the top of the upright frame, the lower ends of the sides of the upright frame extending down within the grave mound frame and seated upon the said, flange and provided with depending tongues secured in the openings of the flange and permanently connecting the two fran'ies, and inscription slides extending across the space between the sides of the upright frame and having their terminals arranged in the said. grooves, said inscription slides being introduced into the upright frame before the frames are assembled, and being permanently retained in the upright frame when the two frames are socured together.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto allixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM JOHN EARLY.

Witnesses:

1on1. A. ONnIL, H. L; BRINSON. 

